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Warm up the kitchen with indoor plants
Plants bring life and colour into the kitchen, just as they do in any other room. Plants also create a companionable ambiance and there are many plants that improve air quality as well.
Bright and light kitchens are good for plants too. They are warm and humid which suits most indoor plants that originate from tropical forests.
Best indoor plants for kitchens
Because kitchens are workspaces, compact, slow growing plants that don't take up much space are the most suitable. These include peperomia, peace lily, flowering pot plants like kalanchoe, African violets, chrysanthemums, and anthurium, succulents such as Haworthia, echeveria, and cacti and trailing plants like Philodendron scandens and Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aureus.)
Maiden hair fern and Bird's nest fern (Asplenium) as well as Sansevieria and even bamboo palms (Areca) enjoy the warmth and humidity of a kitchen.
Care for kitchen plants
Keep an eye on plants for fat splatters which attract dust to the leaves. Once a layer of dust settles it smothers the air pores and leaves aren't able to photosynthesise. Make it a regular weekly task to wipe the leaves with a moist piece of cotton wool or cloth.
African violets are particularly susceptible to dust on their leaves. Clean by wiping gently with a damp cloth or microfibre cloth or brush the leaves with a soft toothbrush brush.
Plants that like warmth and humidity should be closer to the stove and can trail from the top of the fridge.
Air purifying plants
Quite a number of indoor plants have air purifying qualities and are compact enough for a kitchen where space is an issue.
Mother-in-laws tongue (Sansevieria) absorbs carbon and increases the levels of oxygen. Sansevieria grows in medium to bright light and should dry out moderately before watering..
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) filters unpleasant odours tolerates low light and needs minimal water.
Bird's nest fern (Asplenium antiquum) absorbs carbon and increases oxygen levels. Plants like a warm room and moist soil. Misting the leaves improves humidity.
Calathea purifies the air, likes warm rooms and low to medium light. Keep soil slightly moist.
Flowering plants for countertops and windowsills
Kalanchoe and calandiva are succulents that need very little care, good light and moist but not wet soil. They are indoor stalwarts with long lasting flowers Cut off the dead flower spikes, feed with a liquid fertiliser, and they will come into flower again.
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Succulents such as echeveria, cactus and Haworthia (Zebra plant) that are ideal for sunny kitchens. They will thrive on a windowsill, and need very little water, yet always look decorative.
Anthuriums, especially the mini's, are long-lasting plants that survive neglect. They like bright indirect light. Wipe the leaves to remove dust.
Pot Begonias are rewarding indoor plants with their bold, beautiful blooms. Keep in a warm room, with bright indirect light and don't over water.
Chrysanthemums like bright light and moist soil. Can be planted into the garden in summer.
African violets like bright indirect light and humidity and should only be watered with the soil is slightly dry to the touch.
Trailing plants for hanging baskets
Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aureus) has variegated yellow and green leaves. Keep plants compact with regular trimming. It tolerates low light, and the soil can dry out before watering again.
Philodendron scandens, also known as the sweetheart plant for its heart-shaped leaves is a vigorous grower, easily trained as an indoor climber or for trailing down from shelves.
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Article and images supplied by Alice Coetzee.
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